Last weekend i did a 10 yard mulch job on a very expensive home in a very nice area and i need help on breaking down the charges for this job. She told me she was comfortable paying $2000 for this job plus the extras that i did. Any help on breaking this down would be greatly appreciated. I also sprayed the whole area i mulched, delivered the muclh and removed a barrel of sticks and debris. Thanks for any help and input. I want to make this look very professional because she is a great customer and loves my company.

Wideopen

06-24-2008, 05:54 PM

Do you mean break up the costs on the bill?

dura to the max

06-24-2008, 05:56 PM

i wish i could make that much on mulch. i guess to really help we need to see the cost of the mulch. and w/e else you had in the project. also the amount of time involved, and number of men.

punt66

06-24-2008, 06:01 PM

$2000 for 10 yds? Wow your laughing all the way to the bank. I would have a hard time justifying those charges. I charge $70 per yard. Includes mulch,delivery and nstallation. Myself and 1 laborer can do 10 yards in about 5 hours. COSTS:

$180 mulch
$50 labor
$20 gas

=$250 direct expenses
10yds X $70 = $700 sales

$700 - $250 = $450 profit in 5 hours. Almost $100 per hour.

I couldnt justify $2000 but get it if you can.

Honey Do Property Mgmt.

06-24-2008, 06:01 PM

Mulch is roughly $34 a yard, i had 3 men on the job and it took 4 hours with the spraying, mowing and mulching. I basically want to break down the cost to show her what she is getting charged for. I use quickbooks so it itemizes everything and lists the costs. thanks for your responses fellas!

Honey Do Property Mgmt.

06-24-2008, 06:03 PM

Trust me i know, i usually get between 70 to 100 per yard max. Thats why im in a rut as far as billing.

punt66

06-24-2008, 06:05 PM

Mulch is roughly $34 a yard, i had 3 men on the job and it took 4 hours with the spraying, mowing and mulching. I basically want to break down the cost to show her what she is getting charged for. I use quickbooks so it itemizes everything and lists the costs. thanks for your responses fellas!

Mulching $700

Sprayin $300

Mowing $1000

PS. try to find mulch cheaper.. I pay $18yd

punt66

06-24-2008, 06:06 PM

Hard to make that bill look legit dont you think? Spraying needs lic as well!

Sal200

06-24-2008, 08:29 PM

Mulching $700

Sprayin $300

Mowing $1000

PS. try to find mulch cheaper.. I pay $18yd
Is that 18 per yard the cost of the brown mulch or red or black. I get my brown mulch for 20 per yard and red and black at 30.

dura to the max

06-24-2008, 09:57 PM

i pay 20 or 28 per yard no matter what color.

bigclawnman

06-24-2008, 10:03 PM

I pay for $10 for regular hardwood, $16 for red, black, chestnut, and one other color I cant remember. If I want something like cedar or cypress then its $33 per yd.

milkie62

06-25-2008, 03:25 AM

The best I can get it for is 28/yd but I have to buy it in 80 yd loads.I pay 35/yd for brown black or red

punt66

06-25-2008, 07:22 AM

18yd picked up, as you call it brown. NATURAL PINE

BillyRgn

06-25-2008, 12:45 PM

18yd picked up, as you call it brown. NATURAL PINE

ware are you getting the mulch from, and what are the prices on the other types of mulch, i'm in hamden

punt66

06-25-2008, 01:34 PM

ware are you getting the mulch from, and what are the prices on the other types of mulch, i'm in hamden

Well i buy most of my mulch at Flemig Farm in Simsbury. $18yd contracter price. Need a tax #. Otherwise its $24yd
TJ Barkmulch in southwick mass is $19yd i have bought there as well

milkie62

06-27-2008, 08:37 AM

I am outside Albany NY and prices here are outrageous compared to others prices it seems

J.A.G LAWNCARE

06-27-2008, 11:46 AM

no way 2 make that bill look good you raped her and need to give me her number for mulching next year ..I will make money even with the drive from Ohio.....lol

BillyRgn

06-27-2008, 01:27 PM

Last weekend i did a 10 yard mulch job on a very expensive home in a very nice area and i need help on breaking down the charges for this job. She told me she was comfortable paying $2000 for this job plus the extras that i did. Any help on breaking this down would be greatly appreciated. I also sprayed the whole area i mulched, delivered the muclh and removed a barrel of sticks and debris. Thanks for any help and input. I want to make this look very professional because she is a great customer and loves my company.

Did you give her the price, or is 2,000 what she said was the maximum that she wanted to spend on the project, like that is the budget to shoot for, because it sounds like you did not do 2 grand worth of work ( no offense) because i would charge $1,000 for the mulch (delivery, labor, material). As far as spraying the area, i'm guessing round up or something of that nature, whats the most you can charge, $150 maybe ?? and removed a barrel or sticks & debris, what could you charge for that $100 for the labor of picking it up and taking it away. i'm thinking $1,250.00 plus sales tax for this job, and this would not be a cheap price, fair, but not cheap either. just because the customer told you she would pay 2 grand, does not mean you have to charge 2 grand, to me if a customer said she's comfortable with 2 g's then i would take it as make the job work for 2 g's or less. unless you want to get a reputation as a rape artist, then i would charge a fair price for the work you did.

dura to the max

06-27-2008, 05:37 PM

Did you give her the price, or is 2,000 what she said was the maximum that she wanted to spend on the project, like that is the budget to shoot for, because it sounds like you did not do 2 grand worth of work ( no offense) because i would charge $1,000 for the mulch (delivery, labor, material). As far as spraying the area, i'm guessing round up or something of that nature, whats the most you can charge, $150 maybe ?? and removed a barrel or sticks & debris, what could you charge for that $100 for the labor of picking it up and taking it away. i'm thinking $1,250.00 plus sales tax for this job, and this would not be a cheap price, fair, but not cheap either. just because the customer told you she would pay 2 grand, does not mean you have to charge 2 grand, to me if a customer said she's comfortable with 2 g's then i would take it as make the job work for 2 g's or less. unless you want to get a reputation as a rape artist, then i would charge a fair price for the work you did.

i agree %100. i wanted to say this earlier but havent had the time. he's right on the money (no pun intended)

Honey Do Property Mgmt.

06-27-2008, 05:46 PM

I know that you guys would pass up the money. Im not trying to get over on anyone, this is the same lady that i mow for $25 a week with a huge yard. I thought these forums were for help but i guess not. Obviousyly thats why the Lawn service market is the way it is. But i wish all of you the best!

Green Team Landscaping

06-27-2008, 06:14 PM

$2000 for 10 yds? Wow your laughing all the way to the bank. I would have a hard time justifying those charges. I charge $70 per yard. Includes mulch,delivery and nstallation. Myself and 1 laborer can do 10 yards in about 5 hours. COSTS:

$180 mulch
$50 labor
$20 gas

=$250 direct expenses
10yds X $70 = $700 sales

$700 - $250 = $450 profit in 5 hours. Almost $100 per hour.

I couldnt justify $2000 but get it if you can.
thats a good idea. charging by the yard and including the delivery and installation and stuff. i think i may copy that

punt66

06-27-2008, 09:41 PM

I know that you guys would pass up the money. Im not trying to get over on anyone, this is the same lady that i mow for $25 a week with a huge yard. I thought these forums were for help but i guess not. Obviousyly thats why the Lawn service market is the way it is. But i wish all of you the best!

What help are you looking for? There is know way for the bill to look legit. Dont itemize it and just charge her if you feel compelled to rip her off. ? You looking for permission?

Honey Do Property Mgmt.

06-28-2008, 05:23 PM

thanks for your input

justgreen

06-28-2008, 07:15 PM

actually, we are helping you, you just don't realize it. You need to charge according to reasonable prices. If you are just looking to get as much as possible, you'll soon find yourself out of business, or struggling to find it

Honey Do Property Mgmt.

06-28-2008, 10:19 PM

If you read the preious posts she is the one who initiated the 2000 fee but i do appreciate all the input and im not gonna charge her that much.

HOOLIE

06-28-2008, 10:25 PM

I would just keep it simple...just list on the invoice (for example)...."Beds cleaned of weeds and debris, beds edged, all hedges trimmed, double shredded hardwood mulch installed. $XXXX.00"

Sounds like the customer is easy to work for, I doubt they are looking for a price breakdown.

J.A.G LAWNCARE

06-28-2008, 10:30 PM

you cant do a price breakdown with that ... mulch cost $200 labor $5000000000
WONT LOOK GOOD

Lawnut101

06-29-2008, 01:40 AM

I'd charge around $84/yd for that kind of mulch. So, for me, to have the mulch delivered and installed it would be around $840-890 (I would have someone deliver it, so the delivery cost would be added on to that). I would only charge her what my normal rates are, and then if she wants to pay the full extra amount, well that'd be fine. But I like to be honest to people (I'm not saying your not). It leads to more work.

PORTER 05

06-29-2008, 08:19 AM

mulch = ?

labor = ?

spraying = ?

additional items = ?

total= ?

BillyRgn

06-29-2008, 01:34 PM

I know that you guys would pass up the money. Im not trying to get over on anyone, this is the same lady that i mow for $25 a week with a huge yard. I thought these forums were for help but i guess not. Obviousyly thats why the Lawn service market is the way it is. But i wish all of you the best!

here is some help, don't take it the wrong way, don't feel as if i am being a a**hole, if something dosen't work in business, you get rid of it, or do something to make it work. if the lawn is large like you say it is, and $25 is not enough, then you tell the customer your business is moving forward and no longer can do the lawn mowing, or you tell the customer that you have to raise the price, to a level, ware you can make money, if you go tell the customer, that you have to raise the price per cut, because the rising cost of business is forcing you to, explain to her that you are not only not making money, you are actually not even breaking even, so that is why you are raising your price, if she does not under stand, then you should get rid of her, because that is not the type of person, that you need for your business.